The Future of Consumerist

Over the last twelve years, Consumerist has been a steadfast proponent and voice on behalf of consumers, from exposing shady practices by secretive cable companies to pushing for action against dodgy payday lenders. Now, we’re joining forces with Consumer Reports, our parent organization, to cultivate the next generation of consumer advocacy.

Stay tuned as Consumerist’s current and future content finds its home as a part of the Consumer Reports brand. In the meantime, you can access existing Consumerist content below, and we encourage you to visit Consumer Reports to read the latest consumer news.

All we need is love, or so they say, but the New York City doesn’t need padlocks declaring your heart’s desire on the Brooklyn Bridge anymore.

The Department of Transportation is posting signs warning visitors against snapping so-called “love locks” — representing the unbreakable bond between two (or more) people — anywhere on the bridge, or face a $100 fine.

It’s not all finger-wagging and nagging; some of those 16 signs are humorous: for example, one features padlock and a bagel and lox, noting, “No lock, yes lox,” the New York Daily News reports. Mmm, bagels.

The thing is, love is grand and all, but the city is sick of having to cut off padlocks: folks have been clipping the locks on the bridge since 2009, officials say, and removal efforts cost NYC more than $100,000 annually.

“Unfortunately, each year we’re seeing more of these locks,” DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg told the New York Post. “It costs the city real money in terms of sending our personnel out there to remove them. It’s a lot of extra work.”

Besides costing the city precious money to get rid of them, the locks can pose a hazard to drivers down below, officials said: on Sept. 8, a wire attached to an overhead light on the bridge broke under the weight of all the locks attached to it, shutting down a lane of traffic for two hours.